Pages

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Colonel William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, July 24, 1861

FORT CORCORAN, July 24,
1861.

On my arrival back here, carried by the shameless flight of
the armed mob we led into Virginia, I tried to stay the crowd, and held them in
check to show at least some front to the pursuing force. Yesterday the
President and Mr. Seward visited me, and I slipped over for a few minutes last
night to see your father. John S. and Tom1 have seen me and promise
to write you. The battle was nothing to the absolute rout that followed and yet
exists. With shameless conduct the volunteers continue to flee. A regiment, the
New York 79th, Scots, were forming to march over to Washington, and I have
commanded them to remain. If they go, in spite of all I can do, there will
remain here but one company of artillery, 90 strong, and a Wisconsin regiment
ready to run, and Beauregard is close at hand. So it seems to be true that the
North is after all pure bluster. Washington is in greater danger now than ever.

I will stand by my post, an illustration of what we all
knew, that when real danger came, the politicians would clear out. The proud
army characterized as the most extraordinary on earth has turned out the most
ordinary.

Well, as I am sufficiently disgraced now, I suppose soon I
can sneak into some quiet corner. I was under heavy fire for hours, touched on
the knee and shoulder, my horse shot through the leg, and was every way exposed,
and cannot imagine how I escaped except to experience the mortification of
retreat, rout, confusion, and now abandonment by whole regiments. I am much
pressed with business regulating the flight of all, save the few to remain on
this side of the river.

Last night I received several letters from you, and took
time to read them, and now trust to Tom and others to tell you of the famous
deed of Bull Run.

Courage our people have, but no government.

__________

1 Thomas Ewing, Jr.

SOURCE: M. A. DeWolfe Howe, Editor, Home Letters of
General Sherman, p. 203-4. A full copy of this letter
can be found in the William T Sherman Family
papers (SHR), University of Notre Dame Archives (UNDA), Notre Dame, IN
46556, Folder CSHR 1/138.